Man has entire student loan debt erased thanks to trivia game app

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- An Indiana man had his entire student loan debt balance erased, all thanks to a free trivia game, according to WXIN.

Jordan Shelton, a 2014 graduate of Manhattan Christian College in Kansas, couldn't believe it when he found out his $33,407 in debt was taken care of.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine my loans being paid off by playing a free trivia game!” said Shelton. “At CMF International, I recruit, encourage and equip interns for international ministry. With the burden of student loans gone, I’ll now be able to expand my missionary work!”

The game, called Givling, is a pay-to-play trivia game that helps students pay off loans. The mission of the app is to "eradicate the growing $1.4 trillion student loan debt crisis," according to Givling officials.

Shelton's wife and coworkers surprised him with the news on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.

“Student loans are predatory loans. They can’t be dismissed in bankruptcy and haunt people even in retirement” said Lizbeth Pratt, CEO and founder of Givling. “The stories we receive are heartbreaking. Just the other day we received an email from a low-income retiree and his monthly pension is garnished because of his student loan debt.”

The loans are paid off through revenue from advertising and the optional in-app purchases.

“We have the power to pay off one $50,000 loan per day” said Pratt. “The more people that play, the more debt we pay off. It’s that simple.”

Givling says they've paid off five student loans worth more than $550,000.